The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has declared an Air Quality Action Day, in effect until midnight EDT Tuesday night. The alert has been issued due to elevated levels of fine particulate matter, known as PM 2.5, which are expected to reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range.

Residents, particularly active children and adults, as well as individuals with respiratory conditions like asthma, are advised to limit prolonged outdoor activities to reduce exposure.

To help improve air quality, the public is encouraged to take the following actions:

• Walk, bike, carpool, or use public transportation to reduce vehicle emissions.
• Avoid using drive-through services and try to combine errands into one trip to minimize car use.
• Delay refueling vehicles or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
• Turn off engines when idling for more than 30 seconds.
• Conserve energy by turning off unnecessary lights or setting air conditioners to 75 degrees or higher.

Experts say by taking these steps, the community can help reduce air pollution and protect those most vulnerable to its effects.